Novavax's COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Showed Immune Response, Protection Against Variants

Vandana Singh
·1 min read

  • Novavax Inc (NASDAQ: NVAX) announced preclinical and clinical data on its recombinant protein COVID-19 vaccine candidate, NVX-CoV2373, directed against the SARS-CoV-2 Beta (B.1.351) variant identified in South Africa.

  • The vaccine candidate is advancing in two Phase 2 studies, including a Phase 2b trial in South Africa.

  • The company said testing of blood serum of random thirty participants of a Phase 2 trial who had received both doses of NVX-CoV2373 revealed robust antibody responses to the original version of the coronavirus as well as against the Alpha variant first found in the U.K. and the Beta variant.

  • However, the response against the Beta variant was slightly less, Novavax said.

  • The company will conduct further clinical testing of the Beta-focused vaccine in the fall of 2021.

  • Novavax also said preclinical studies in mice and baboons found that a different vaccine specifically targeting the South African variant, dubbed Beta, produced immune response and protection.

  • Previously, Novavax's COVID-19 shot met the primary endpoint with a vaccine efficacy of 89.3% against mild, moderate, or severe COVID-19 in Phase 3 trial conducted in the U.K.

  • Price Action: NVAX shares are up 6.16% at $222.60 in the premarket session on the last check Monday.

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